Caustic--Inner Deflagration (CD) {2026 Horror Pain Gore Death Productions}

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8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Caustic from Spain return with a new full length eleven years after their last effort. While they still have quite a few Cannibal Corpse-isms in their sound, they've created material here that goes beyond mere mimicry, putting their own stamp on the style and adding their own alchemical mixture to the cauldron of death. The riffs are strong, careening from one to another with speed and power, all held together by the brutal drumming and sturdy bass work. We even get solos from time to time, and they're quite good. The guitar tones are supremely heavy and pleasing to the ear, with a lot of crunch. The vocals are another strong point, fierce growls that are also expressive and powerful, how death metal ought to be sung. It's a stellar performance, and one I could listen to over and over. This is technical enough music to require a few listens to fully appreciate, but that's not to say there are no hooks. No, there are plenty, there's just a lot going on here and it takes some time to fully absorb it. This is top notch death metal by top notch players and a fine album is the result.

Mortuary--Great Black Earth (CD) {2026 Horror Pain Gore Death Productions}

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8/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

Mexico's legendary Mortuary return with a four song EP, and a mighty one it is. The only thing that's changed about this band is the recording quality taking a step up, as it should since the last recording we have from them in an EP from twelve years ago - it's easier to make things sound proper than it was then. All the familiar aspects of their sound are present, with Slayer-esque leads, ripping fast riffs, and late '80s death metal style. My favorite track here is "Black Superstition," with it's Massacre-style verse riff and lower vocal style. I love when bands stick to the style they originated with and don't change too much. Mortuary is one such band. They never change and they deliver solid death metal every time. I especially love the sound of some of the drum rolls, reminding me of very early Sepultura, a sound which I always found fascinating and exciting sonically. In fact, if I had to compare Mortuary to anything to describe it to a newcomer to the scene, it would be Morbid Visions/Bestial Devastation-era Sepultura. Real '80s death metal! I'm just glad this band is continuing to give us new recordings after all these years. Their legendary first record finds its way onto my playlists all the time, and now we have four new killer songs of theirs to enjoy.

Caesarean--Wretched Decrepitude (CD) {2025 Horror Pain Gore Death Productions}

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10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This six song EP is full of deadly riffing and tight blastbeats, resulting in strong grind-influenced death metal. They remind me a little of the first two Gorerotted albums, Mutilated in Minutes and Only Tools and Corpses, which are classics in my mind. The dual vocal attack is excellent, and the high vocals are an especially intense screamed style, while the low vocals remind me of Bill Steer. The intensity never lets up from any of the instruments, and forward motion seems to be these songs' defining trait, alongside brutality, of course. Every riff is catchy and every song is memorable. We also get an excellent guitar solo in the song "Perverse Formulary of Human Fluids," which doesn't last long but really adds a dynamic to the song. In a scene where so many bands don't seem to care about writing forceful and intense death metal, this band is a breath of fresh air. I am now a fan, and I look forward to more from this band. Give me more of this intensely performed death metal!

Violent Testimony "Aggravate" (Review)

Violent Testimony Aggravate

2025 Horror Pain Gore Death Productions (CD)

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10/10 CRUSHED FUCKING SKULLS

This is the first length from this Wyoming grindsquadron. They play a catchy mixture of death, thrash, and black metal on a grindcore chassis and it's absolutely wonderful. They remind me slightly of Rotten Sound, if only for their song structures. This is vicious stuff, violence in musical form, here to take your worthless fuckin' head. This is very original material, also - other than the Rotten Sound comparison I made, it's unique and I can't think of anyone they truly sound like. The consistent power of the blast beats brings to mind classic records like Panzer Division Marduk. They have the same rabid energy and quality of composition that it takes to make a great record with this much blasting. This one just grabs hold of you and won't let go at all, drowning you in the turbulent atmosphere. It's equal parts piss, vinegar, and violence! Their vocalist is a formidable force, belting out his lines with power and conviction. They also know how to slow it down and bring the heavy like on "Left to Rot," among other tracks, to give us a break from the grind for a few seconds. This is a perfect record and I am now a fan, and I can't recommend this highly enough. Mandatory purchase - don't let this one get by you!